Nintendo's global roll-out kicks off on 26 February with the Japanese launch, with the gadget arriving in the US and Europe early in March - as yet, specific dates haven't been announced for these territories.

Japanese buyers will pay ¥25,000 (£189). Given the January VAT increase to 20 per cent, we reckon UK consumers will be paying £230-250 at retail.

The 3DS displays 3D without the need for special spectacles, using half of its 3.53in, 800 x 240 display to show the left-eye image and the rest for the right-eye picture, making for a combined 400 x 240 image.

The 3DS' secondary screen is a 3in 320 x 240 touchscreen.

It also contains three 0.3Mp cameras, one front-facing and two pointing outwards and together capable of taking 3D stills - plus 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and a gyro sensor and a motion sensor.

Other publishers will get in on the act too: Activision with DJ Hero 3D, EA with Sims 3, Capcom with Resident Evil: Revelations and Street Fighter IV, Square Enix with Final Fantasy, Namco Bandai with Ridge Racer, Ubisoft with Tom Clancy games, and more. ®